Angels from the realms of glory

Yesterday I had a moan about those people who learn the Christmas Story through Christmas Cards and suggested that we immerse ourselves in the ‘real Christmas Story’ well today I want to continue my ramblings on a theme.


It is interesting to note that in recent years, as a result of the PC brigade it would seem fewer and fewer schools have a ‘nativity play’. It has also been interesting to see in the letter pages of our newspapers the number of parents complaining that they are being denied the pleasure of seeing their little Linda, Lucy or Katie (or perhaps more likely, Brittney, Chardonay or Tallulah!!!) dressed as angels. Let’s face it who of us have not let out a sigh or wiped away a tear at seeing the host of tiny angels dressed in white standing around the stage singing ‘Away in a Manger’? Even if as teachers, ministers and parents we know that some of them are far from angels and the memory of the tantrums and tears at the rehearsals( and that was from the mums!) are still open wounds we cannot help but smile at the sight.

In an earlier Blog I took the opportunity of revealing a secret that I had long tried to hide. Such a cathartic experience as it was I would like to reveal another one of my long held secrets. Just once I would love to produce a nativity play where the angels are played by the men of the congregation, apart from the comic value of seeing six footers wearing white shifts. Just for a few minutes imagine the scene in your church, the looks on the faces of the congregation when the angels ‘danced in’ singing in their tenor, baritone and bass voices, ‘Away in the Manger’ that moment alone would be worth all the hassle of rehearsals and reason enough to try it.

However the real reason would be to perhaps be a bit more Biblically relevant. Take another look at the accounts in the bible of angels. Zecaraiah, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds not to mention all the accounts in the Old Testament or at the Tomb of Jesus. Very often the words closely associated with angels is fear and awe. With the exception of the little girl in the Haribo Sweet TV advert, fear and awe are words that I do not normally associate with little girls (actually thinking about it….!!).

Once again it would seem much of our understanding and thinking of the Christmas Story has been shaped by Christmas Cards…I guess I might not be getting many Christmas Cards this year….but please keep sending them where else will I get my sermon ideas from?